Patents Examined by Gregory Prather
-
Patent number: 8960361Abstract: A control device for a motor vehicle has a manually controllable drive position selector element and a control element for controlling secondary functions of the motor vehicle. The drive position selector element and the control element for the secondary functions are attached to a common base body which is movable relative to an interior lining part of the motor vehicle. The drive position selector element is designed such that it can be used as a hand rest for the control element for the secondary functions.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Jacques Helot, Ulrich Beierlein, Wouter Kets, Imanuel Merk
-
Patent number: 8960040Abstract: A latching shifter mated with a shift-by-wire transmission in which the gear cam includes a momentary shift lever position which is spring biased toward the drive gear notch. A driver is enabled to shift the transmission into a desired gear by passing the shift lever into and out of the momentary shift lever position in the event of autonomous shifting by the transmission or to otherwise provide a selected gear of the transmission. Preferably a dynamically changeable gear shift display is provided, the indicia of which is responsive to the gear status of the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Orson S. Wang
-
Patent number: 8939042Abstract: A portable, refrigerant recovery unit for transferring refrigerant from a refrigeration system to a storage tank. The recovery unit includes two, opposed piston heads rigidly attached to respective piston rods that extend along a common fixed axis. The piston rods are rigidly attached to the yoke member of a scotch yoke arrangement. In operation, incoming refrigerant from the system is simultaneously and continuously directed to the opposing piston heads wherein the forces of the pressurized refrigerant on them counterbalance or neutralize one another. The scotch yoke arrangement includes a two-piece slide mechanism mounted about a cylindrical crank pin and a single piston embodiment is additionally disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Inventor: Gregory S. Sundheim
-
Patent number: 8886417Abstract: Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using the systems to operate a bicycle that allows front and rear gear changer mechanisms to be controlled with only two switches. The switches can be arranged so that each hand is only required to operate one switch to shift the bicycle.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: SRAM, LLCInventor: Brian Jordan
-
Patent number: 8863603Abstract: The invention relates to a gearshifting device (1; 100; 200), which is intended for a transmission and comprises a selector lever (2) that can be moved in such a manner that different shift positions (P, R, N, D, S, M+, M?) can be selected in at least two gearshift gates (3, 4) and that it is possible to shift between one of the gearshift gates (3, 4) and the at least one other gearshift gate (4, 3), and comprises at least one lock (5), which is used to block the traversing path of the selector lever (2) with respect to one of the gearshift gates (3, 4), in order to shift from one of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S) into another of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S).Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: ECS Engineered Control Systems AGInventor: Wolfgang Pätzold
-
Patent number: 8826761Abstract: A shift element comprising at least three shift positions for shifting two gear transmission ratios in which in a first end position, which corresponds to a first shift position, the first gear transmission ratio is engaged and in a second end position, which corresponds to a second shift position, the second gear transmission ratio is engaged, while in the central position, which corresponds to a third shift position, both gear transmission ratios are engaged.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2008Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Manuel Goetz, Matthias Reisch
-
Patent number: 8826763Abstract: The invention relates to a pusher device (8) that includes a rotary bearing (10) having an inner periphery (11) that is off-center relative to the outer periphery (12). In order to compensate for wear, the bearing (10) is rotationally urged in one direction (F) by a spring (10) and is thus pressed against the back (9) of a rack (3) that is then pushed back against the teeth of the steering sprocket (5). The rotary bearing (10) is rotatingly mounted in a housing (13) that is in turn mounted on a steering casing (2) so as to be capable of sliding in a direction (B) parallel to a plane (P) of the teeth (6) of the rack (3) and orthogonal to the axis (A) of said rack. Shock-absorbing spring means (20, 21) are arranged between the sliding housing (13) and the steering casing (2) for absorbing the straightness defects of the rack (3).Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2009Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: JTEKT EuropeInventors: Nicolas Plataret, Patrice Brochot
-
Patent number: 8800398Abstract: A ratcheting-type, rotor controlled, continuously variable transmission machine wherein the circumferential length of a cross-sectional profile of a body of the rotor is substantially constant, and the maximum positive swivel angle of the body is substantially equal in magnitude to the maximum negative swivel angle of the body.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2009Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Varibox IP (Pty) LtdInventor: Johannes Jacobus Naude
-
Patent number: 8794842Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member with a wheel hub and an inner ring. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces, respectively, of the inner member and the outer member. Seals are mounted in annular openings formed between the outer member and the inner member. The inner side seal of these seals comprises an annular slinger and an annular sealing plate. The sealing plate includes a steel plate metal core and a sealing member bonded to the metal core, via vulcanized adhesion. A plurality of sealing lips extends from the sealing member and is in sliding contact with the slinger. An outer circumferential lip is formed on the periphery of the sealing member. The outer circumferential lip extends radially outward. It has a substantially L-shaped cross-section and is adapted to fit into a gap between the outer member and a flange portion of a knuckle.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2009Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: NTN CorporationInventor: Kazuo Komori
-
Patent number: 8771308Abstract: The present invention refers to a transmission mechanism of an eyebrow tattoo machine, which includes an eccentric rotation shaft connected to a driving axle of a motor and having a bottom end configured to rotate eccentrically with respect to the driving axle, an upper bearing coupled with the bottom end of the eccentric rotation shaft, a position-limiting cover longitudinally provided with a position-limiting groove, and a swinging rod element mounted to the upper bearing and provided with a swinging rod and a position-limiting rod on two sides respectively. Since the position-limiting rod is only allowed to swing up and down in the position-limiting groove when the eccentric rotation shaft drives the upper bearing and the swinging rod element, the end of the swinging rod away from the upper bearing can swing up and down and then drive a tattoo needle to move vertically up and down through a lateral bearing.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Mei-Cha-Na Hsinyen Co., Ltd.Inventor: Su-Lin Lin
-
Patent number: 8757025Abstract: The present invention relates to a shift module 1 for a shift lever of an automatic gear drive, comprising a linearly displaceably supported slider 10, 200, which is engageable with a shift lever and which can be displaced out of its rest position to two opposite switching directions by means of the shift lever, a measuring device 20, 92, 94 connected to the slider 10, 200 for determining of the position of the slider 10, 200, wherein the measuring device 20, 92, 94 is formed such that it can measure the actual position of the slider 10, 200 continuously over its total way of displacement.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.Inventor: Jaume Terradas Prat
-
Patent number: 8707817Abstract: An operating device (40) for a state-changing element that is an embodiment of the present invention includes a detent mechanism (50) for displacing and positioning displacement members (22, 33) included in a state-changing element (10), an actuator (60) for driving the detent mechanism (50), and a control unit (5) that controls the actuator (60).Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Naoki Itazu, Yoshinobu Nozaki
-
Patent number: 8677853Abstract: In a robot arm is provided with a closed link mechanism between a base and a hand, and a temperature of a first link member from among a plurality of link members constituting the closed link mechanism is to reach a first temperature T1, and a temperature of a second link member is to reach a second temperature T2, the first link member and the second link member formed from differing materials. An elongation ratio of the first link member, in which a length of the first link member at the first temperature T1 is divided by length of the first link member at a pre-operation temperature T0 is approximately equal to an elongation ratio of the second link member, in which a length of the second link member at the second temperature T2 is divided by a length of the second link member at the pre-operation temperature T0.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Nabtesco CorporationInventors: Mitsuru Shimamoto, Takahiro Maekawa
-
Patent number: 8671795Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a mounting bracket and a column jacket moveable relative to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket defines a rake slot having rake slot teeth and a telescope slot having telescope slot teeth. A shaft extends through the rake slot and the telescope slot transverse to a longitudinal axis of the column jacket. A rake lock having rake lock teeth is disposed within the rake slot and a telescope lock having telescope lock teeth is disposed within the telescope slot. The shaft extends through and rotatably supports the rake lock and the telescope lock. The rake lock and the telescope lock rotate as the rake lock and the telescope lock move into interlocking toothed engagement with the slot teeth to avoid peak-to-peak contact between the lock teeth and the slot teeth, thereby permitting full meshing engagement between the lock teeth and the slot teeth.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2009Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding CorporationInventors: Suat A. Ozsoylu, Karen A. Boswell, Michael P. Anspaugh, Robert W. Dubay
-
Patent number: 8640564Abstract: This invention is revises the cap nut which the custom knows to suppose it to install trough's outline, will cause to install the dadoing to lead (lead angle to be small) lowly or on two above trundle ditch cap nut will not have the broken tooth's question, when will process should install the trough, only need use the face cutter then to process the forming, will reduce the production cost; And return circuit of this invention all establishes in the backflow part, therefore may promote and the cap nut supposes the backflow hole and the load way grade of fit, causes to roll the moving parts movement to be smoother, and reduces the noise production.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2009Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.Inventor: Yu-Shan Lee
-
Patent number: 8608608Abstract: An apparatus consisting of a motor with a cylindrical housing homocentric to the drive shaft of the motor. A pinion is affixed concentrically to the front end of the motor housing. The motor housing is fitted with bearings which allows the motor housing to rotate inside its support housing when torque is applied. Idler gears set in a frame perpendicular to the drive shaft mesh with the pinion attached to the motor housing, and link that pinion to a similar pinion affixed to the drive shaft of the motor. When the drive shaft is coupled to a workpiece and torque is applied the opposing force generated by the torque causes the motor housing and its pinion to rotate in the opposite direction. The idler gears linking the similar pinions redirects that opposing force toward the torque initiated by the motor thus compounding the amount of energy being applied to the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Inventor: Oral Evans Simpkins
-
Patent number: 8584548Abstract: A robot arm assembly includes a first link, a second link, and a joint rotatably connecting the first link and the second link. The joint includes an actuator mounted on the first link, a harmonic drive including a wave generator, a flex spline fitting over the wave generator, and a circular spline engaging the flex spline, and a belt drive between the actuator and the harmonic drive. The flex spline is fixed to the first link, the circular spline is fixed to the second link, and the belt drive transmits the rotational movement from the actuator to the wave generator.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dong-Wei Gao, Zhen-Xing Liu
-
Patent number: 8578809Abstract: A shifting device (11, 40) with a servo-assistance mechanism (10), in particular for a transmission (30) of a motor vehicle which comprises an assembly for selecting and engaging a gear of the transmission (30) and an element (20) upon which acts a manual shifting force to be assisted. The servo-assistance mechanism (10) can produce a performance characteristic curve which, as a function of the manual shifting force or a shift phase, has ranges with different gradients or proportions with respect to the manual shifting force. Elements (88, 90, 106, 108), upon which a servo-pressure acts, are present in the servo-assistance mechanism (10) for producing the characteristic. In the control system of the servo-assistance mechanism (10), path limitation units and at least one elastic element (84, 110) are provided, upstream from and/or in the servo-assistance mechanism (10), to limit the servo-assistance force in a path-dependent manner for each gate or gear.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Klaus Spaeth, Dieter Fischer
-
Patent number: 8578811Abstract: A hexapod actuator device, notably used in flight simulators or driving simulators, includes six legs. A first end of each leg is notably mobilizable along a straight segment by virtue of a motorized carriage. The hexapod actuator comprises notably six segments of straight lines that may be coplanar or inclined with respect to the ground. A second end of each leg may be mounted free on a ball joint with three degrees of freedom in rotation. Each of the ball joints is secured to a mobile platform. The device lies in the field of systems allowing motion to be imparted to pilot cabins for example.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: Robert Alet, René Le Guillou
-
Patent number: 8555431Abstract: A linear actuator device for pieces of furniture, e.g. beds, is described which include an adjustable section (2, 3) pivotally embedded in a frame (1). The section (2, 3) is raised and lowered by at least one rod (23, 24) mounted on a pivot shaft (4, 6). The actuator comprises a housing (8) with a bushing (10) receiving the pivot shaft (4, 6), and a spindle (14) driven by a low-voltage DC motor (11). The spindle (14) carries a spindle nut (12) fixed against rotation which in one direction of motion operates an arm (5, 7) mounted on the pivot shaft (4, 6) for adjusting the section within the piece of furniture. By designing the arm (5, 7) such that, when it engages the spindle nut (12), it will rest against an area (17) of the nut's end which faces farthest away from the shaft, an expedient moment curve for pivoting the section is obtained, as a large moment occurs at the beginning and the end of the section's movement just when needed.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2007Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Linak A/SInventor: Jens Jørgen Nielsen